"The Grace Thrillers has become a musical institution,"
says CEO and founder, Noel Willis. Founded in 1971, the group has chalked up an enviable list of achievements, and has built up a vast repertoire of songs that have inspired people throughout the years. The Grace Thrillers has attained international recognition, and has performed in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and throut the Caribbean. While performing in North Carolina in the USA, the group was selected to appear on the famous “Bobby Jones Gospel†on BET, where their outstanding performance made an indelible impact on the audience.
The group has an impressive line-up of achievements:
1984 Represented the Caribbean in the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) sponsored World Gospel Festival in Chicargo, U.S.A.
1986 The Rainbow Production Award for being the most consistent gospel group and for the best gospel album. The Tibby's Auto Supplies Award for Spiritual Ministry through Music and Song.
The Grace Thrillers has also won numerous awards from musical sponsors involved with the non-gospel genres:
1987 The Rockers Award for Best Gospel Album
1988 and 1992 The Jamaica Music Industry Award (JAMIA) for Best Performing Gospel Group.
1991 The Gospel Celebrations Award for its contribution and pioneering role in gospel music. (The 20th Anniversary). That same year ten gospel groups from across the island of Jamaica paid tribute to the Grace Thrillers at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in Kingston.
1991 The Mayor of Opa-Locka, Florida proclaimed July 1 as 'Grace Thrillers Day.'
The Grace Thrillers has performed with some of gospel music's elite, including the Hawkins Family, the Commissions, the Richard Smallwood Singers, Candi Staton, Shirley Caesar, Jesse Dixon and the Williams Brothers.
Today, the Grace Thrillers is as vibrant and popular, despite numerous changes in personnel. As the new album title suggests, today heralds “A New Dawning†in the history of this dynamic group. Its current membership, including CEO and founder Noel Willis, consists of: Noel Willis, Jr.Alrick O' Connor, Mary Lewis, Shalli Burchell, Natalie Foster, Cadian Brown, Althea Hemmings and Larry Snow (overseas member).
This new complement was assembled over a very short period of time, and, five months later, “A New Dawning†arrived, with fifteen tracks.
